Lemons vs. Limes

In Ayurveda, all foods, herbs, spices, and beverages are understood by their energetics and how they affect the body, mind, and spirit according to your doshic balance (constitution). The category used to understand these energies is taste (rasa), which includes one or more of the six tastes (sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, or astringent). These have a hot, warm, cold, or cool effect on the body, known as (virya). Finally, have a post-digestive impact on digestion in the small intestine and colon.

Lemons and limes are very similar overall but have some differences that make them more beneficial for the doshas.

Lemons

Rasa (taste): Sour & Sweet

Virya (energy): Heating

Vipaka (post-digestive): Sour

Reduces Vata and increases Pitta and Kapha.

Bio-medicals: Immune building boosts immunity, is alkalizing, neutralizes pH in the stomach, antacid, antiviral, antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, detoxificant, and alternative.

Limes

Rasa (taste): Sour & Bitter

Virya (energy): Cooling

Vipaka (post-digestive): Sweet

Reduce Vata and Pitta, increase Kapha

Bio-medicals: Antibacterial, antiseptic, disinfectant, nutrient, reduces tartare and bleaches teeth, reduces urinary calcium, increases bile flow, and benefits fat digestion.